seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Two Chinese Vessels in Distress in Storm off Vietnam Prompting Rescues
12-22-2020 https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/two-chinese-vessels-in-distre...

A strong storm moving across the South China Sea in the area near Vietnam placed two Chinese-owned vessels in distress. The Vietnamese Coast Guard and other vessels in the area responded to distress calls.

China requires 2 Covid tests for Filipino seafarers–POEA
Philippines News Agency December 12, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/12/12/china-requires-2-covid-tests-fo...

All Filipino seafarers bound for China are required to take not only one but two coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) tests before they will be allowed to enter the host country, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said on Friday.

IMO condemns ‘no crew change’ clauses in charterparties
Adam Sharpe 21 Dec 2020 https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1135196/IMO-condem...

Such clauses exacerbate the mental and physical fatigue among exhausted seafarers, IMO says

Pope Francis Urges Governments to Repatriate Stranded Seafarers
12-21-2020 https://maritime-executive.com/corporate/pope-francis-urges-governments-...

Pope Francis has voiced his concern for stranded seafarers affected by the crew change crisis and urged governments to do all they can to repatriate them.

MOL reports new measures aimed to stop recurrence of Wakashio grounding
December 21, 2020 https://shipinsight.com/articles/mol-reports-new-measures-aimed-to-stop-...

What Happens When Tycoons Abandon Their Giant Cargo Ships
K Oanh Ha December 18, 2020 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-12-17/what-happens-when-tyc...

From the deck of their tanker, Captain Samig Nabiyev and his crew could see the smoke and fire rising over the Port of Beirut, 900 meters away. When the flaming warehouse exploded, the force of the blast knocked Nabiyev flat on his back.

Why Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line Stocks Fell Today
A dangerous new strain of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly.
Joe Tenebruso Dec 21, 2020 https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/21/why-carnival-royal-caribbean-a...

What happened

Last refinery in the Philippines shutters
Sam Chambers December 21, 2020 https://splash247.com/last-refinery-in-the-philippines-shutters/

The last refinery working in the Philippines will close next month. Petron said the decision to close its loss-making 180,000 barrels a day refinery was a temporary one and it will reopen when market conditions improve.

15 sailors missing as cargo ship sinks off Vietnam
Islamuddin Sajid | 18.12.2020 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/15-sailors-missing-as-cargo-ship-s...

Panama-flagged vessel was taking clay from Malaysia to Hong Kong, crew includes 11 Chinese, 4 Vietnamese nationals

At least 15 crew members are missing as a Panama-flagged cargo ship capsized in rough seas off Vietnam, local media reported on Friday.

PMMA unveils historical marker in Intramuros
Yashika F. Torib December 9, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/09/business/maritime-business/pmma-u...

Rene Escalante (right) of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Commodore Joel Abutal, PMMA Superintendent PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PMMA